The Verdict [Blu-ray]

Director: Sidney Lumet, Lars Kraume Sidney Lumet

Overview

In Sidney Lumet's powerful courtroom drama The Verdict, Paul Newman stars as Frank Galvin, an alcoholic Boston lawyer who tries to redeem his personal and professional reputation by winning a difficult medical malpractice case. Frank, down on his luck, is presented with the case of his life when he is approached by the family of a woman who has been left in a coma following an operation in a large Catholic hospital. Helped by his assistant Mickey (Jack Warden), he agrees to take the case, hoping for a fast settlement. When he visits the victim in the hospital, he becomes emotionally involved, turns down a sizable settlement offer made by the hospital, and decides to bring the case to trial despite the formidable opposition of the Church and its lawyer, Newman (James Mason). He is also assisted by his new girlfriend, Laura (Charlotte Rampling), a woman who turns out to have an unusual past. Oscar-nominated for "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Lumet) as well as for "Best Adapted Screenplay" (David Mamet from a novel by Barry Reed), The Verdict is an outstanding, if not very legally accurate, courtroom drama; Frank's decision to try the case without telling the family of the victim of the settlement offer would probably lead to his real-life disbarment. Paul Newman and James Mason give fine, Oscar-nominated performances, and Charlotte Rampling is quite good as the deceitful Laura, who never seems to turn down a drink.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/07/2013
UPC:	0024543832096
Original Release:	1982
Rating:	R
Source:	20Th Century Fox
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	2:09:00
Sales rank:	317

Special Features

Paul Newman: The Craft Of Acting; Milestones in cinema history: The Verdict; Sidney Lumet: The Craft Of Directing; Audio commentary with director Sidney Lumet And star Paul Newman; Two additional featurettes

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Paul Newman	Frank Galvin
James Mason	Ed Concannon,Widow's Son
Jack Warden	Mickey
Charlotte Rampling	Laura Fischer
Milo O'Shea	Judge Hoyle
Lindsay Crouse	Kaitlin Costello Price
Edward Binns	Bishop Brophy
Julie Bovasso	Maureen Rooney
Roxanne Hart	Sally Doneghy
James Handy	Dick Doneghy
Joe Seneca	Dr. Thompson
Lewis J. Stadlen	Dr. Gruber
Kent Broadhurst	Joseph Alito
Colin Stinton	Billy
Burtt Harris	Jimmy the Bartender
Scott Rhyne	Young Priest
Susan Benenson	Deborah Ann Kaye
Evelyn Moore	Dr. Gruber's Nurse
Juanita Fleming	Dr. Gruber's Maid
Jack Collard	Bailiff
Ralph Douglas	Clerk
Gregor Roy	Jury Foreman
John Blood	Funeral Director
Dick McGoldrick	Manager
Patty O'Brien	Irish Nurse
Maggie Task	Irish Nurse
Joseph Bergman	Friedman
Herbert Rubens	Abrams
J.P. Foley	John
Leib Lensky	Wheelchair Patient
Clay Dear	Courthouse Lawyer,Courthouse Lawyer
J.J. Clark	Courthouse Guard
Greg Doucette	Waiter
Marvin Beck	Sheridan Patron
Herb Peterson	Sheridan Patron
Wesley Addy	Dr. Towler
Burghart Klaußner	Actor
Martina Gedeck	Actor
Florian David Fitz	Actor
Lars Eidinger	Actor
Jördis Triebel	Actor
Rainer Bock	Actor
Tobin Bell	Courtroom Observer
Kevin Fennessy	Funeral Mourner
Joy Todd	Actor
Tony La Fortezza	Sheraton Bartender
Bruce Willis	Courtroom observer (uncredited)
Johnny Mandel	Composer

Technical Credits

David Mamet

Oliver Berben

Ferdinand von Alten

Sidney Lumet	Director
David Mamet	Screenwriter
David Brown	Producer
Burtt Harris	Executive Producer,Producer
Richard D. Zanuck	Producer
Lars Kraume	Director
Oliver Berben	Producer,Screenwriter
Ferdinand von Alten	Screenwriter
Kirsten Frehse	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Another gritty urban drama from Sydney Lumet, the rich, entertaining courtroom thriller The Verdict combines the director's typically realistic, brooding atmosphere with a stunning lead performance from Paul Newman. Written by David Mamet, the picture follows a fairly standard legal movie premise -- a downtrodden lawyer finds redemption fighting the good fight -- but Lumet gives the proceedings a starkly solemn air, focussing the audience's attention on Newman's subtle performance. It's some of his best work of the actor's career; he's supported by the similarly stellar James Mason, in one of his last noteworthy performances. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

All Movie Guide